The Best Natural Aphrodisiacs For Valentine’s Day

With Valentine’s Day just around the corner, it’s time to start planning for a special day (and night) with the one you love. We all know about the staples: roses, hearts, chocolate boxes, anything pink and red.. but to really get the fire going, plan your dinner to inspire romantic feelings with some help from nature!

Incorporate a few of these natural aphrodisiacs to get you both in the mood.

Natural aphrodisiacs to try

1. Chocolate

Fortunately, this one is already built into the holiday! But don’t settle for cheap, sugary milk chocolates, dark is the way to go. It stimulates the heart rate, increases touch sensitivity and releases pleasurable endorphins like dopamine.

2. Ginseng

Brew a warm cup of ginseng tea to go with dessert – it releases emotion-enhancing phytoestrogens in women and improves libido for both sexes.

3. Oysters

If your significant other isn’t a fan of shellfish, don’t force this one because oysters are one of those foods you either love or hate! Traditionally, this is a male-only aphrodisiac said to boost testosterone production.

4. Almonds

Almonds, on the other hand, are said to be a female aphrodisiac. Certain nations use them to symbolise fertility and it’s said that just the smell can increase women’s passion.

5. Asparagus

A few hundred years ago, it was a French tradition to serve asparagus to newlyweds before dinner. The thiamin and folic acid in asparagus help the body produce natural histamines that contribute to libido.

6. Bananas

It doesn’t take too much imagination to figure out why bananas are linked to sexuality! But it’s not just the shape – they actually contain enzymes and minerals that have been known to enhance libido in men.

7. Basil

Cooking some pasta for you and your lover? Consider trading tomato sauce for pesto (especially since pine nuts also have aphrodisiac qualities).

Basil has been linked to love for thousands of years, especially in India and Italy. And eating it is actually not necessary – the aroma alone is reported to improve mood and emotional state as well as blood circulation.

8. Ginger

The way this spice increases circulation is what makes it so effective as an aphrodisiac. It increases sensitivity to touch, and, as an added bonus, it improves digestion. Nothing worse than a stomach ache ruining your plans.

9. Chilli peppers

If you and your lover are a fan of spicy foods, chilli peppers are a great way to turn up the heat! They generate physical responses like increased heart rate and circulation, clear your sinuses to improve your senses and release happiness endorphins.

What could be more appropriate for Valentine’s than this heart-shaped red fruit? Another item besides asparagus that made it on the French newlyweds’ menu was strawberry soup. The fruit doesn’t directly affect libido, but it does release endorphins that keep us happy.

Since everyone’s body responds a little differently, try out a few of these foods (or all of them!) to see which work the best for you.

The best part is, all of these foods have other great health benefits as well, so whether or not they work as love-enhancers for you, using them is a win-win.